Posted 2008-10-20 1:26 PM (#93281) Subject: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Veteran
Posts: 241
I'm getting a Hart trailer, I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to get regular aluminum sides or the polished aluminum. The polished exterior looks really nice but will it hold up over the years? Does one need to re-polish it every few years? Help me decide. Thanks.
Posted 2008-10-20 1:31 PM (#93283 - in reply to #93281) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Are you sure it's polished aluminum, or is it polished stainless steel? I would think the polished aluminum would take some annual maintenance to keep it looking bright...... Specially with salty horse drool spattering on the trailer side while the horse is tied.
Posted 2008-10-20 2:13 PM (#93287 - in reply to #93281) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Veteran
Posts: 241
The nose of the trailer will be polished stainless steel, the sides are polished aluminum. I called the manufacture and they said they have held up pretty well but I need to hear from folks who really know and are not trying to make a buck.
Posted 2008-10-20 3:13 PM (#93291 - in reply to #93287) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
It will stay flashy for awhile, but when you wash it make sure you get all of the soap off and do not wash it in the hot sunlite, the soap will bake right into it. Our 2004 Sooner had polished side and we loved it and after 2 years it was still shinny. FYI, DO NOT GET IT ACID WASHED unless you want the mill look!
Posted 2008-10-20 4:10 PM (#93294 - in reply to #93281) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
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Posts: 241
The manufacture also told me about the acid wash, thats a good thing to remember. He said if you acid wash it it goes right back to the standard aluminum look, no polish. He also said road salt is very hard on the polished sides. I would be interested to hear from anyone else with this option.
Posted 2008-10-20 4:17 PM (#93295 - in reply to #93281) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Location: Central Arkansas
We have had several LQ trailers with polished aluminum sides. Do not acid wash at all! If you must go thru a truckwash, only get the Citrus Wash and be sure that you ask for and get clean brushes. We ordered in some of the Streakmaster products to try, but have not used them as of yet. We used the Citrus wash for several years on the 2004 4 Star and it was still pretty shiney when we sold it earlier this year. We had the polished sides hand waxed one time and man, it looked better than new!
Posted 2008-10-20 4:23 PM (#93296 - in reply to #93281) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Unless the bare aluminum is coated with some kind of surfactant, it will oxidize and dull. The clear finish used by some manufacturers to prevent this, can be damaged by acid washings. I'm sure the trailer manufacturer will provide washing instructions, and a listing of which materials to avoid.
If this surfacing is damaged, the aluminum area that is exposed will dull. Polishing that area will damage the coating beside it, and the area will increase as more attempts are made to keep it shiny.
Without a coating, the aluminum will start to dull (oxidize) in a matter of weeks. Brighteners can then be used to remove the oxidation, but it will always be an on going process.
Posted 2008-10-20 4:56 PM (#93298 - in reply to #93281) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Member
Posts: 10
Location: Helena, Montana
As a dealer - go with the regualr aluminum sides or if they offer a mill sided finish go with that feature. The high polish looks nice but the maintenance is high and it will scratch, swirl, get "milky" (if washed with the incorrect soap). The regular sides will show less and will be easier to maintain in the years to come. Nothing is worse than looking at a brand new trailer with beautiful polished sides and seeing the marks that your horses halters and lead ropes make on the side.... No fun in buffing!
Posted 2008-10-20 5:45 PM (#93300 - in reply to #93298) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
Where do you go to get it repolished and how much does it cost. I have heard of those people advertising on the CB about polishing fuel tanks and wheels on 18 wheelers and was wondering if this would be the place? My shoulders would not hold out to do it by hand..
Posted 2008-10-20 8:50 PM (#93313 - in reply to #93281) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Expert
Posts: 2614
Originally written by AQHA 123 on 2008-10-20 1:26 PM
I'm getting a Hart trailer, I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to get regular aluminum sides or the polished aluminum. The polished exterior looks really nice but will it hold up over the years? Does one need to re-polish it every few years? Help me decide. Thanks.
I know some folks that have a beautiful Featherlite with the polished sides.They've said to us that it was pretty when they bought it,and,it's pretty when it is cleaned up,but,getting it there and keeping it that way is a nightmare.The big problem for them is water spotting.
I'd personally rather have a mill finish over the entire trailer,and acid wash it once a year or whenever,and be done with it.
Posted 2008-10-21 10:04 PM (#93389 - in reply to #93281) Subject: RE: Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
Veteran
Posts: 241
Thanks for all the replies folks. based on what I have read here I decided to not go with the polished-- it looks great when its new but I don't want to worry about it staying nice. Besides, I travel a lot of winter roads and I don't think it would hold up as well. Now I just need to decide on Hart or 4-Star... Thank you all.
Polished aluminum or not....??? Will it hold up?
